GRAND
REPUBLIC
Cabin ~ 1876
Passengers
photographed in the Cabin of the Grand
Republic, 1876. Photographs of
steamboat interiors were usuually taken without people in view, since
it was the ornate architecture that the photographer sought to capture,
and because it was necessary for passengers to remain still until the
exposure was complete.

Credit:Photographer,
unknown.

CITY of
ST.LOUIS Cabin
The
main
cabin of the City of
St.Louis. Date unknown. It appears to be a sunny
day as sunlight is easily entering through the skylights on either
side. The furniture has been moved aside. The two men standing in the
center are formally dressed.

Credit:
Photographer, unknown.

BELLE of
MEMPHIS
Cabin
Servants
are standing in position, in this photograph of the cabin in the Belle
of Memphis. All members of the crew, whether cooks,
waiters, barber,
mud clerk or stokers, were proud of their "sumptious" palace.

Credit:
Photographer, unknown.

CITY of
ARKANSAS
Cabin

Sunlight
is streaming through the skylights into the cabin. Again,
the servants are standing at attention in their accustomed
locations. At least one table appears to be laid for dining.

Credit:
Photographer, unknown.

CITY of NEW
ORLEANS
Cabin

Even
the stove flu is polished to perfection.

Credit: Photographer, unknown.

J.M.WHITE
Stairway
Entrance

Coming aboard the J.M.White
across the
forecastle we arrive at the main stairway up to the cabin. Note that
the men standing either side have been positioned to provide a sense of
scale.

Credit:
Photographer, unknown.

J.M.WHITE
Balcony

This is the "balcony" at the head of the main
stairway. The stairway divided into two and this is the starboard side.
Note the flooring design.

Credit: Photographer, unknown.

J.M.WHITE
Watercooler

Entering the forward end of the main
cabin we
find the watercooler.

Credit: Photographer, unknown.

J.M.WHITE
Cabin

The
truly patalial cabin of the J.M.White,
which was 275 ft. long, 30 ft.
wide and 18 ft. high. The cabin was
constructed of solid bird's-eye maple, hand-carved and inlaid with
woods of contrasting colors. The skylight window panes were
stained-glass. All hardware in the White's cabin was gold-plated. The
staterooms were as large as 12 by 14 ft., fully furnished with beds,
and arranged so that they could be converted into suites.

Credit:
Photographer, unknown.

J.M.WHITE
Cabin
View

A
view along one side of the J.M.White's
cabin. The stove, just visible
to the left, is also suitably ornate and polished.

Credit: Photographer, unknown.

J.M.WHITE
"Ladies Cabin"

The "Ladies Cabin" was in the
rear of the main
cabin, which is reflected in the huge mirror. The inlays and carvings
are especially ornate. At the time, no other steamboat could rival the White in
luxuriousness and appointments.

Credit: Photographer, unknown.

J.M.WHITE
Office
The
skylights in the office of the J.M.White
were an unusual shape
and stained-glass. Again, fine inlays are present, especially
above and below the windows. The sign reads: "Bills Taken
For Collection ~ Not C.O.D."

Credit: Photographer, unknown.

J.M.WHITE
"Promenade" Deck

Outside the main cabin we find
the spacious
"promenade" deck. There are, apparently, ample spitoons positioned for
the convenience of passengers, probably intended more for smokers
wishing to dispose of cigar butts, since throwing a live butt over the
rail would risk it landing on the lower deck where a fire could easily
start amongst freight.

Credit: Photographer, unknown.

J.M.WHITE
Pilot-House

Climbing up onto the forward end of the "Texas"
we can look back at the White's
pilot-house, with a pilot at the wheel
~ extending below the floor.
There are also two other men in the pilot-house. Unfortunately, this is as
close as we can come to the interior of the White's pilot-house
as no photograph was taken detailing within.

We seem to be out on
the river. The "'scape" pipes are visible either
side, with their feathered tops, akin to the much larger
stacks.